1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.

2 And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain,

4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains. But the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.

5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and cutting himself with stones.

6 And when he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and worshipped him.

7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, »What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me.«

8 For he had said to him, »Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!«

9 Then Jesus asked him, »What is your name?« And he replied, »My name is Legion, for we are many.«

10 And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country.

11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.

12 So all the demons begged him, »Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.«

13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14 So those who fed the swine fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And people went out to see what it was that had happened.